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Pomelo
Categories: Restaurants Asian Fusion Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Asian Fusion, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
1793 Church St(between 30th St & Day St)
San Francisco, CA 94131
Neighbourhood: Noe Valley
(415) 285-2257
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2:30 pm
Sun 5:30 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
454 reviews for Pomelo
Review Highlights
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"...the banana stuffed mascarpone brioche french toast) was..." In 6 reviews -
"The mini muffins were sooooooooo yummy." In 21 reviews -
"Big menu with cute travel destinations around the world." In 22 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
454 reviews in English
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Review from Rochelle D.
Brisbane, CA
3/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hubs and I directed our car to Church Street on the hunt for parking in close proximity to either Toast or Pomelo. Well, we found rockstar parking in front of Toast, but the wait was over an hour. So we trekked on down a couple of blocks towards Pomelo, where we were seated right away.
Their menu focuses on global fare and my eyes immediately focused on a sisig dish, which was my first choice. But, I went ahead and ordered the South Beach, which consisted of a grilled chicken breast, black beans and two eggs over medium. A great protein packed meal with a great host staff.
There's so much more on the menu that I'd like to try! So we'll be back! -
Review from John F.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/23/2012
We had a birthday brunch here. Everyone really enjoyed the food, but the service was not the best.
I had the Monte Cristo and Makena. The large helping of prosciutto and flavor from the balsamic reduction made the Monte Cristo delicious. Other people thought the Makena was perfect because the brioche was so light, but I was hoping for more banana flavor.
I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Christa K.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2012
I came here for brunch on a Sunday and my first impression came from the delicious pear and almond mini muffins that were immediately served. Yum!
The brunch menu was so overwhelming. Everything looked so good! I went for the Chelsea (eggs, toast, house potatoes & fresh fruit). The fruit was SO fresh and as odd as it sounds, the toast was perfectly toasted. It was a simple and delicious meal that could have been far more boring, but the cook doesn't miss the details of how to make a scrambled egg just right. My +1 ordered the monte crisco, which was also delicious.
I highly recommend this spot for brunch. 4/5 because service wasn't very friendly. -
Review from Rohan D.
5/21/2012
It's a little too tight inside so not the best place to eat in and unfortunately there is not a nice place to eat nearby unless you live nearby. I recommend staying outside if you get a chance. The servings are just right to fill you up until dinner but not overpack so you're in a food coma.
The french toast in the seasonal menu was good, though I'm not a fan of the coconut syrup, the taste doesn't just fit right with me but the french toast itself is delish.
The excellent thing though is the Indonesian fried rice, that was some of the best fried rice I've had, excellent flavor with a variety of meats and vegetables in it to appetite you. -
Review from Adrienne G.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2012
Special Sunday Brunch brought us to Pomelo. This is 1 of Sis' go-to spots when entertaining people in our hood & she's a big fan. Me? Not so much.....
Tables are ***way*** too close together - be prepared to get bumped EVERY time someone passes you. Extremely annoying!
I went for the Cardamom Pancake "Rolls" w/ Pear Compote - these were thin crepes that unfortunately were not complimented by the sauce at all - there was a weird aftertaste that no one at the table really cared for....I think it was the Chantilly cream but couldn't pinpoint
BF got the Butternut Squash Frittata w/ trumpet mushrooms & leeks - had all the ingredients for a scrumptious dish but something was just a bit off - the squash was really bland & the shrooms had a slimy consistency
Buddy 1 got the Brioche French Toast - stuffed w/ Marscapone & this was a dry frenchie which was fine w/ her - she's not as demanding of a custardy treat like I am. Light coating of eggy mixture to coat the somewhat think slices of brioche & a marscapone schemer. She really liked her dish - plate cleaned. For me, that brioche was begging to be saturated w/ batter to the point of falling apart.....alas
Sis chose the Tofu Scramble which is her go-to. She likes their potatoes, salad & the scramble is soft & fluffy & mixed well
So with 2 liking their dishes & 2 not, have to even it out w/ an overall 3 Stars.... but I won't be back -
Review from matt n.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/23/2012
Updated here: After 6+ years of going to Pomelo, my last time was yesterday. Unfortunately became violently ill after eating the Pacifica. Narrowly missed a repeat offender as my toddler had the fish tacos. Thank the baby jebus the 2YO didn't get the same thing I did - would have been a visit to the ER - it was /violent/.
The food itself was also just not as good as in the past. Always a bummer to pay to get sick.
Unacceptable all around, and don't bother smirking about Sunday Fish. Good care can keep food fresh just fine for 1.5 days.Listed in: My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/30/2006
this is where my fiancee and i go when we don't want to cook and don't want to order in. it's always… Read more »
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Review from Thomas D.
San Francisco, CA
4/7/2012
Another lesson learned....
I avoided this restaurant for years because to me it looked unkempt from the outside.
The awning still needs to be cleaned from our feathered friends' little gifts. The inside needs to be painted and a bit of feng shui wouldn't hurt either.
But, the most important part of course is the food. Wow--I was impressed. Stopped in for brunch today and had the Monte Cristo. (egg battered polenta sandwich with prosciutto, basil and other ingredients drizzled with a reduced balsamic vinegar dressing)
This was accompanied by 2 eggs over easy and a mixed greens salad.
Good eats!
Their dinner menu looks wonderful too. They offer international, inspired cuisine including beverages and beers from around the world.
I'll be back.
PS (update)
Just walked past this place 2 days after writing my review and the awning looks cleaner! -
Review from Aaron S.
Berkeley, CA
5/7/2012
Went there for my birthday. Hellllllllaa good.
Every single dish we had was top notch.
I'm going back for sure. -
Review from Jacqueline C.
Sacramento, CA
2/14/2012
Yes! This is what brunch should be. My husband and I loved the food here!
They offer food items from all over the world. Each breakfast/brunch item featured is from a different place (examples include Maui, Lima, New York, Korea, Siena).
We ordered the Battery Street, the Monte Cristo, and the Cork. The Battery Street is three scandinavian cardamom pancake rolls served ginger-vanilla pear compote, toasted almonds and chantilly cream. It was so heavenly. I polished the whole thing and scooped up the last of the cream! The Monte Cristo is a polenta sandwich with prosciutto, mozzarella, sun dried tomato and basil, pan fried in olive oil, served with a balsamic reduction, two eggs your way and seasonal greens. This dish had a perfect blend of flavors. My husband appreciated that they perfectly poached the eggs the way that he wanted them. The Cork was basically Pomelo's version of corned beef hash, with corned beef, purple, and sweet potato hash with two eggs sunny side up and gorgonzola-thyme vinaigrette. This was the perfect corned beef hash dish and my friend seemed to enjoy it a lot.
This place does get crowded and you have to have your whole party there before they will seat you. It was a little tight when we were trying to fit into our table. I will definitely say without a doubt that this is my new favorite place for brunch in SF. I would like to come back soon to try the dinner. As long as you don't mind waiting, I would highly recommend you check out Pomelo! -
Review from Nadiyah S.
Imperial Beach, CA
4/22/2012
Came here and was excited to see that they had laksa on the menu! It wasn't bad but still it does not stack up to anything I've had in Singapore. My favorite thing about this place is that they give you HUGE mugs for your hot beverages- so big you have to use two hands! It made me really enjoy the mocha I had, which was not too sweet, not too bitter- perfect!
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Review from Chris D.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of my fave's in the city for brunch for great options and great service. The wait wasn't bad because of the rain yesterday, but once your seated u'll get a hot apple muffin comped and make sure to order the house made fennel sausage and what ever country u feel like exploring that day. And get your buzz on with the bellini.
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Review from Christopher C.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2012
Went for brunch and had the Altamira -- the concept of which was good as was the food itself, however, I must say that what leaves a lasting impression more so than the wildly obnoxious table which was on the other side of the (fairly small) space than us, was our waitress... who was about as personable as she was gracious. And she was about as personable and gracious as that of a slightly over OR under-cooked piece of toast, with no butter. You may wish to point out that butter is not for everyone. Fair, however, there was nothing atop this toast whatsoever... and the bread itself was baked over a week ago. Capice?
All things considered, I did like the menu enough to return for either dinner or to sample some of the less breakfast/brunch-centric items on the menu - and with the hope of perhaps being served by someone without social anxiety disorder who has chosen a vocation in the hospitality industry. -
Review from Michael M.
San Francisco, CA
3/30/2012
Excellent neighborhood fare. Asian fusion. I very much enjoyed dinner; tuna over ginger spiced noodles for me, fish-of-the-day for my spouse. Excellent service and easy seating. We'll be back.
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Review from Natalie N.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The food here is exceptional. We've visited Pomelo a couple of times now, and I have been consistently impressed - surprisingly so - at just how good the food is. Great menu selection and convenient location right off the J Church.
We started with the Cabo tacos. I wasn't super excited about the look of them (covered in cabbage), but the taste, my god, the taste. Far better than it looked. We also had the brussel sprouts. Very tasty. For an entree, we split the Havana - a Spanish themed fried rice with black beans, avocado salsa, and an incredibly tasty flank steak on top. Really unique combination of flavors, but it totally worked. I highly recommend it. Oh, and I can't forget the fantastic hibiscus bellini! Another unique flavor not to be missed.
Definitely gonna add Pomelo to the regular restaurant rotation. Many more tasty looking menu options to try! -
Review from Brian M.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
I have enjoyed going to breakfast at Pomelo for as long as it's been open on Church Street (and for several years prior to that when it was Valentine's at the same location). They always have some very interesting "destinations" on their menu.
For breakfast this morning, I had the "battery street (burlington)". These are basically Swedish style pancakes (three of them) rolled into a cigar shape and served with some (well, a lot of) Crème Chantilly. Their ginger-vanilla pear compote really goes well with these cardamom/cinnamon flavored crêpe-lettes. It was all very good.
I can also highly recommend (from past experience) the "altamira" and the "lupa", as well as their weekend special omelette or scramble "noe valley" (the ingredients change depending on the season and what is fresh and available).
Take a little "trip" over to Noe Valley and see for yourself.
(I can't post a link to my 'blog here ~ I was told it's a no-no by the yelp* powers that be ~ but if you want to see my more detailed take on this great little place, just check out my "Profile" for the link to my 'blog and today's entry.) -
Review from Oscar B.
Palo Alto, CA
3/2/2012 1 photo
Best part: Nelson treated us like royalty.
I had the Havana and it was amazing. My friend substituted her chicken for Mahi Mahi on a salad and it was also amazing. For appetizers we had a something that was basically figs with melted cheese that I wanted to eat it all by myself but I had to share with my friends. Pomelo is also one of the only places I know where I can order an Asahi Black. -
Review from Jean Y.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
The menu for Pomelo is all over the place. You will notice items that are Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Cuban, Italian, French, Mexican, and more.
I tried these two items:
* Ratatouille with chickpea pancakes: The pancakes were a bit too dry, and the ratatouille was not very well seasoned.
* Chilled soba noodle salad with pan sauteed tofu: This tasted fine.
The food seemed very homey. Not bad but not great. Perhaps on par with a good supermarket deli. I personally prefer to eat at places with more focused menus.
The interior is extremely quaint, cute, and cozy. -
Review from Timea B.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
After a long Friday night nothing sounds better then a great Saturday brunch...but I'm not a fan of waiting an hour in front of a restaurant, hence I am not the best bruncher: I'm getting grumpy, hangry and loose motivation easily :-)
Today was different. We decided to walk about 6 blocks from my apartment and check out Pomelo, since it had so many good ratings on Yelp. And I have to say, we were not disappointed.
Pros: NO waiting whatsoever - Yaaaayyyyy! (we got there around 12, it might have been worse in the morning). Also, the food and service was pretty fast, their menu caters to everyone's needs, the custom made omelet was delicious (go for the exotic mushrooms!) and the macadamia french toast was AAAAmaaazing! Last but not least, this part of the city feels like it's a little village, which makes the place even cuter.
Cons: Kinda remote, unless you live in Noe Valley, Mission or Bernal Heights (however, you can take the J muni there from downtown), their capuccinos and lattes are not really good, and you can't use more than 2 debit/credit cards per party.
Summary: definitely check this spot out if you are in the neighborhood, it's worth it! -
Review from Michele M.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2012
Food is delicious and inexpensive! Great experience.
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Review from Christina L.
Berkeley, CA
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was SUPER SUPER SUPER cute. I went here with a friend, we got off at the Glen Park BART and started walking over. It was a nice walk, and luckily it didn't rain on us. When we got there, we were seated quickly.
The menu features dishes from around the world. Everything sounded delicious, so we had a hard time picking. I got the Makena ($8) - French Toast with macadamia nuts, banana and brioche cream. It was delicious. My friend got the Cork ($12), corn beef with an egg and potatoes. It was also delicious. Before the meal comes out, they give two little muffins (Apple, cranberry, walnut for the day).
The restaurant is small. The outside looks a little more shabby that I thought it would by the looks of the picture, but when you walk into the restaurant, you will feel an instant at-home feeling. The cabinets are yellow and green. They are home kitchen cabinets with small window panels and in back is a more industrial kitchen I'm sure.
The service was great, I'd give it a 4/5 stars. I was more interested in talking with the person I came with instead of the staff, so it was perfect that they didn't really interrupt us. I wish they would have talked a little more about their dishes and interacted with us because the restaurant has such a unique concept. Instead of honing in on one culture of dishes, they take inspirations from around the world.
I would DEFINITELY come back to this place again.
P.S. Across the street is a SUPER CUTE neighborhood grocery store. :] -
Review from Rae R.
San Diego, CA
11/9/2011
I really loved this restaurant!
Although, they took a really long time to take our order for two, and get us seated, it was super crowded when we went there for a sunday brunch.
The mini muffins were sooooooooo yummy! Their grape fruit mimosa was tasty and refreshing. I ordered the miraflores from Peru, Lima which consists of tacu-tacu, crispy afro-peruvian bean and rice pancake with yellow pepper sauce, topped w marinated grilled skirt steak, fried plantains and one egg sunny up.......
so amazing!!! mmmm I recommend!
But definitely, bring friends, or a ukulele/book to read, so you won't get bored waiting to get seated! -
Review from Erin C.
San Francisco, CA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Crostini with figs are delicious as well as the San Marino!
Intimate vibe with about 8-10 tables. The food is delicious and flavorful. The menu offers an array of different cuisines and seasonings. This is convenient so that you can stop by whenever you are indecisive about what you're craving!
Very romantic for dinner (real candles and flowers on each table) but also can be a bit claustrophobic. Well worth it! -
Review from Paul K.
San Francisco, CA
11/13/2011
Only one thing you have to know---the batavia. It's an Indonesian brunch option, consisting of fried rice, shrimp, chicken, a fried egg, and an intoxicating spicy-tangy sauce. It's crack transmogrified. And everything else on the menu is delicious, too. I lean towards the asian dishes, as they offer welcome relief from the standard eggs and potatoes fare.
And, oh yeah, it's two doors down from where I live. -
Review from Sylvie S.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2012
The quintessential San Francisco neighborhood restaurant! Great food and service. There is a wide variety on the menu, something for everyone. The Havannah is the best... Yummy skirt steak with plantains, black beans and rice. I took the nine year old in my life here and they cheerily made it special for him with just the steak and rice. I always take out of town guests here for a SF experience.
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Review from Chris A.
Redwood City, CA
1/11/2012
I have now been here twice. First time was an easy 4 stars. Second time was 2.
Visit #1 I ordered the spicy tofu appatizer, as well as a salad with a hibiscus martini. The place was small and busy, but welcoming all at once. It seemed like a perfect little place tucked away in the heart of San Fransisco.
Visit #2 was NOT good. We had a reservation, but it still took them 10 minutes to get a table ready with me and my GF standing waiting outside. We were then seated. 5 minutes later, we were moved because they made a mistake where they seated us. It was EXTREMELY loud, as there was a drunk group of frat boys at a table in the center of the restaurant. The noise they created dominated the establishment.
I ordered the same thing. The drink was far worse. The spicy tofu had too much onion, and wasn't nearly as spicy. The service was TERRIBLE. From waiting a long time to order, then after the food was brought, not once did a waiter come by to check and see how it was. I had to flag one down in order to get the check, after we waited for a long while...
I might give this place another shot, but its sad that this place that had made such a great first impression had followed it up with such a clunker this time 'round... -
Review from Veronica S.
Fremont, CA
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really like this place! Pomelo has a wonderful, eclectic menu perfect for all types of diners. They have a vegetarian menu and a regular menu as well. The Hayes Valley location is small and quaint, but very charming!
During their brunch, their grape fruit mimosa was really light and refreshing =) They also have many dishes, all dedicated to various regions. They have typical American faire like corned beef or more unique choices like smoked trout. Options are affordably priced $10-$16 for bruch & lunch. -
Review from Erika W.
San Francisco, CA
3/12/2012
Came here for brunch with 9 people. They had to seat us at a really cramped table, but we were later than we said we would be and they were very apologetic- so no problem there- just know that this place is really busy for brunch.
Half of our table got the Altamira, including me. That dish was a 5-star experience all the way. One of my friends got the Motul, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Someone else had the polenta sandwich and said that it was solid. Not everyone liked their meal, though. Some of the people at the other end of the table didn't really care for what they had- I think maybe the trout dish and the egg-noodle frittata. The coffee was good and strong and the quality of ingredients was high. The price was not bad at all- the more expensive brunches were $12.50, some were as low as $8.
Overall, I was quite satisfied. I would have given 5 stars if everyone had loved their meal, but I think this is a place where you need to choose the right dish. I recommend sticking to the Latin-American options since you can't go wrong with the homemade corn tortillas and buns. -
Review from Alex K.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2011
I simply can't have enough of Pomelo. The food is simply outstanding. The service... well, sometimes can be a bit unorganized. That being said, Ralph has made up for it in niceness and careness each and every time.
Whether it is dinner or brunch, this is my recurrent spot. -
Review from Nina Y.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Damn, this place is good. We went to the pomelo on judah and had a good time there for dinner, and I noticed that there was another one on Church, but it also served brunch? It was decided that we needed to go.
We were seated outside, on a great summer day, and with so many dogs walking by, my bf was jumping in his chair...
The strawberry hazelnut muffin to start our meal off was really good. I would have eaten my boyfriends as well, but he finished his off in like a bite. DAMN.
BF got the San Miguel which was delicious. The chicken was tender and I enjoyed the latin American influences. I ordered the Noe Valley and the scramble was delicious. I know that it changes often, and I love restaurants that do that.
I would have to say the service...was spotty to say the least. I mean it was a nice day, so I didn't mind too much, but it had taken like 20 minutes to get a cup of coffee. We had sat down and he ordered it...maybe 20 minutes later, did they ask us for our drink orders which he orders a coffee again. I ordered the hibiscus drink and it was SO GOOD. TOTALLY DID NOT MISS THE ALCOHOL IN THE MORNING.
Overall it was good. Just spotty service, but we enjoyed the weather outside and seeing all the dogs that it really didn't matter too much. -
Review from N S.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2012
Delicious and worth the wait. We were debating between Toast and Pomelo and decided to hold out for Pomelo because the menu just seemed so unique. If I was starving, I probably wouldn't have waited as long but glad we did. We went with the savory and sweet brunch starting with the The Noe Valley special. The omelette was so good with all the right flavoring served with a side of greens. Then continued our fabulous brunch with the Battery Street (three cardomon pancake rolls served with ginger vanilla pear compote). It was so good and the perfect pairing. The place is really cute inside. There was something about the mint ice cream walls that lured me into the venue. I would definitely go back and try something new next time.
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Review from Steph W.
10/16/2011
3.5 Stars! This is an adorable little place in Noe Valley! The concept is unique, serving dishes from around the world. If I were reviewing the restaurant on my dish alone, it would definitely be 5 stars, the macadamia, banana french toast! WOW! My plate was wiped clean! Each bite melted in your mouth and it definitely felt like you were eating dessert for breakfast. The breakfast appetizers of FREE muffins were delicious! They are served nice and warm and makes you just want to go savage and eat your friends' (I was polite though and stuck to my one).
Other dishes that we ordered (and I taste-tested) was the corned beef hash and the South Beach (chipotle chicken breast, black beans, avocado, etc). The corned beef hash was nice and tender. The sauce was a bit sour. The South Beach was reminiscent of tex-mex-tasting food.
I will definitely return to Pomelo for the french toast! As the menu changes, it will be great to venture out to different dishes. As long as the french toast is on the menu though, I won't be feeling too adventurous =) -
Review from Dawn H.
San Francisco, CA
12/5/2011
Had a great brunch at Pomelo today...very cute and quaint place, with an amazing global selection on the menu. One of us ordered a more traditional breakfast omelette, and one a Filipino dish (Batavia) and for me the Venezuelan arepas, which they gladly made into a vegetarian option. We were all happy and satisfied.
The neighborhood is charming (even for those of us without strollers) and if there is a wait (most likely there will be) you can go grab a coffee at the cafe next door, which will almost make you just want to stay there, it's so cute itself.
The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is from the "coziness" of the place; a little too close for comfort. Just...go with people you like to play footsy with....
The service was just fine, but nothing to write home to mom about.
All in all a great place with good atmosphere and thoughtful menu! -
Review from Janu A.
San Francisco, CA
YUM! Went there for brunch for the first time. We were seated immediately. However the table we got was in the walkway out of the kitchen so my bf kept getting knocked by the server and busboy.
Back to the food...it was really good. It was fresh, tasty, and the portions were just right. They have plates from different places around the world. I had the plate from Peru and my bf had the Filipino one, which was better.
The drinks were unique, fresh, and refreshing.
Not ALL the dishes looked great, but there was definitely quite a few that looked really good.
Pomelo, I'll be seeing you again, soon! -
Review from Janelle C.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/26/2011
I still will go with 4 stars...almost went with 3. The place is so flippin' cute and the food just so good! This time the restaurant was busier and it was difficult to get our server's attention a few times. We'd let him finish up with the table next to us and try to get his attention, calling out, excuse me! Repeatedly.
We tried the Ulsan - korean scallion pancakes with scallops, prawns,
red and green chilies, egg and spicy dipping sauce. While this was SO good! It was also SO spicy! Green chiles = jalapenos, and lots of them! I love spicy, but my eyes, they were watering a lot more than normal! We next tried the koh samui - spicy coconut curry with chicken over rice. Smelled great, tasted better. And the ayacucho - grilled fish and quinoa cakes with ancho chili. I could eat this every week! Delicious and love the yam chips!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/4/2011
What a cute and absolutely delicious and casual find!
This spot only takes reservations for parties… Read more »
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Review from Marina S.
San Francisco, CA
2/18/2012
I loved everything about this place except the ridiculous noise level and their French Toast. The food is both delicious and gorgeous. The staff is accommodating even if stressed out. Re French Toast: I am a huge fan of French Toast in general, but when it's too sweet and really should be considered a dessert, it's not breakfast. Pomelo's is delicious, but basically has icing on it. It actually tastes like melted Raffaello candies, which would be fantastic... not for breakfast. They do have one of the best hot chocolates around for a reasonable price. I'd love to be back for that, but will think twice because having a conversation at Pomelo is close to impossible. Hence, four stars.
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Review from Elsa H.
San Francisco, CA
7/13/2011
Amazing brunch restaurant, great service and delicious food.
When we got in we were immediately seat and greeted with an amuse bouche of small muffins to start with while looking over the menu.
The menu selection is unique and they have food in the styles of several different countries. I ordered the ulsan which was delicious, but the portions were so large i had to take the rest home with me. The dish was so delicious though, i only had the leftovers for a few hours before my bf finished them off.
The bf ordered ordered the altamira. His dish was also very delicious and I liked that there were several different options on the plate.
We also ordered a side of fruit and cornbread, a perfect compliment to our brunch.
Pomelo is definitely one of the best brunch restaurants in SF. I only wish it was closer to my apartment so I could visit it more often. I'll definitely be returning soon. -
Review from Stephanie B.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways....
First, the owners of this restaurant are amazing. They are friendly without smothering, and the environment is cozy and comfortable. It is a perfect neighborhood brunch spot.
Second, I first fell in love with dinner, but I recently met brunch. Now, I know that Pomelo is one of my favorites around the clock...
The Eats:
Strawberry, rhubarb, hazlenut muffin - perfect little sweet puffs with a crunchy exterior and whole chunks of fruit. Well balanced flavors - not overly sweet - with excellent crumb and texture.
French Toast - classic bricohe encases a marscapone delight with caramelized bananas and macademia nuts. This could be a mushy mess, but Pomelo prepares it perfectly. The bananas retain their shape in spite of the caramelization to enhance their natural sugars. The marscapone is only slightly sweetened to provide a slightly tart creamy counterpoint to the bananas. And, the nuts add a bit of crunch. This was a great "appetizer" for brunch.
The August special was a skillet with eggs, tortillas, chorizo and veggies - this was so delicious. It tasted like latin breakfast crepes without all of the grease. Veggies were crunchy, eggs were creamy and chorizo was spicy (with spice, not with heat). Delicious!
Noe Valley Scamble - eggs scrambled with herbs and bacon, served with toast. An excellent, reliable dish.
Panzanella - OUT OF THIS WORLD combination of sweet, chopped heirloom tomatoes with CRISP squares of cornbread, squares of a baby pecorino, for a creamy richness, and fresh basil. The best bread salad that I have ever eaten.
Cabo San Lucas - grilled fish tacos in the morning. Uhh,,,,yes please! Fish is perfectly cooked (moist moist moist) and mango salad is spicy and sweet. Cabbage slaw brings the necessary crunch factor. This was amazing.
I love Pomelo, and I send everyone that I know there! -
Review from Jane A.
4/30/2011 4 photos
ALL AROUND THE WORLD BREAKFAST!!!
(4 stars)
The menu takes you around the world for breakfast and back to SF. Where did I go? I went to Hawaii (maui) this morning without getting lei'd. What did I have? The Makena with some hibiscus sangria. WHAT A REFRESHING MORNING VACATION!!! yahdig.
- Food, very good
- Prices, fair
- Ambiance, cute neighborhood cafe
- Service, very good
Yes, I eat out ALOT. I like hunting down the great places in the city (because I am the female anthony bordain of SF). And I have stumbled upon a great cafe in Noe Valley neighborhood just minutes away from my neighborhood.
HEFFER-STYLE STATUS.
*see pictures*
not once we were ever rushed out of this place and loved that. great neighborhood cafe that gets busy and then cleans out and then gets busy.
STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT MUFFINS (complimentary/free) - O.M.G. fresh and delicious. i can have a dozen of those and easily give this place 10 stars for that. best muffins i had, hands down.
HIBISCUS SANGRIA ($6) - it was a toss up for me to get the hibiscus sangria OR the hibiscus bellini. Went for the sangria because i've never had a hibiscus sangria. definately a very tasteful drink, loved it and will order it again.
MAKENA *maui* ($8) - banana-stuffed mascarpone brioche french toast with roasted macadamias and warm coconut syrup. OOH WOW that warm coconut syrup was unbelievable. the serving was only the french toast. no sides, and yes, i ordered a side. it came with 3 fresh puffy pieces and filled me up well (no gut hanging). Oooh wee.
CORK *ireland* ($11) - corned beef, purple & sweet potato hash with two eggs sunny side up and gorgonzola-thyme
vinaigrette. my friend traveled to Ireland. I didn't dip into meat but i tried the potatoe in the vinaigrette.... okay doesnt sound great... but it was DELICIOUS. creative mix for the palate.
LATTES ($?) - served in huge tall mugs. loved it!!! wish they had more flavorful espresso drinks but its all good. had lattes after the meal and shoot the sh!t with friends about life, relationships, manicures, etc. great place to do so with friend(s). next time i'm going we're going to sit outside because they have outdoor seating.
FYI, they had tofu sisig on the menu but skeptical to try sisig at a non-filipino restaurant. but it was the item for *philippines* if you wanted to travel there on the menu. haha. perhaps, next time!
Will I be back? i really enjoy this cafe. YES YES AND YES.
JABA APPROVED. Until the next review....Listed in: Breakfast for the…
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Review from Jose S.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This place never disappoints. Their menu is like a world tour and it is fun and tasty. Their prices are moderate and the atmosphere casual but nice.
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Review from Ziyan C.
Updated - 5/28/2011 14 photos
Loved this brunch place so much I came twice in a month. Ok, it was also because I got a 40% off coupon last time I came - it's their anniversary month =).
* chelsea (new york) - two eggs your way or plain tofu scramble, house potatoes, artisanal pugliese toast and choice of fruit or seasonal greens, $8.5
- fruit was really fresh, potatoes good but could've had more crisp on outside
* makena (maui) - banana-stuffed mascarpone brioche french toast with roasted macadamias and warm coconut syrup, $8
- very unique, was so soft & spongy especially with the coconut syrup that no syrup was needed! bread itself not the best quality (could've been more moist/ hearty) but everything went together really well, as there were tons of banana, the coconut syrup had really , and the macadamias added a crunch and slightly savory (lightly salted) taste
* otsu (japan) - cold buckwheat noodle salad with cucumber, scallion, cilantro & a spicy soy, ginger & sesame dressing, topped with pan sautéed tofu, $11
- lots of unique flavors in this! initially tastes almost too salty, but also has some sour, sweet, slightly spicy. very refreshing, and the tofu was done really well.
* skillet chipotle corn bread with maple butter, $4
- much more a savory corn bread - if you like it sweet you have to load it up with the maple butter (which I did). the bread itself is not too moist or dense, but has a good slight crunch on the outside and has a nice spicy kick to it. a little on the oily side.. but with tons of butter, it became more moist and sweet, just the way i like it1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/5/2011
What a perfect brunch spot - I felt like I was in a nice country cottage enjoying the warm spring… Read more »
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